An excellent, near mint condition example of a scarce British 1895 Pattern Victorian army officer’s sword made in Birmingham by Robert Mole. The P1895 was the predecessor of the 1897 pattern which remains the current British army sword.
The 1895 pattern sword was produced for less than 2 years before being replaced with the 1897 pattern. The main difference between the two patterns is that the P1897 has the inner edge of the guard turned down to prevent excessive wear to the officers' uniform. The beaked quillon is more pronounced on the earlier 1895 pattern and the half basket guard has larger gaps between the scrollwork and cypher, giving it a more open and to my mind aesthetically pleasing look. Both patterns utilise the 1892 pattern thrusting blade.
The 828mm thrusting blade is of dumbbell form, having a symmetrical cross section with a slightly rounded spine and belly and a short central fuller. The blade becomes wedge shaped for approximately two-thirds of its length and terminates in a narrow spear point. The blade is in fantastic, near mint condition and is etched with scrolled foliate panels, a rayed St. Edward’s crown and the cypher of Queen Victoria. The obverse is similarly etched. The blade retains its original leather washer.
The spine of the blade is stamped “MOLE” and the ricasso bears the details, “RobT Mole & Sons. Makers. Birmingham.” The obverse ricasso bears Mole’s brass “starburst” proof stud.
The steel half basket guard has pierced foliate scrollwork incorporating the cypher of Queen Victoria. The guard is in excellent condition. The knurled back strap is finished with an oval pommel and tang button. The ray skin grip is in excellent condition and the silver wire is intact and tight.
The sword is complete with its brown leather field scabbard with German silver throat. The scabbard is in good condition with a professional repair to the stitching above the shoe. The internal wooden sheath has broken above the shoe but is held in place by the leather cover and does not impede the sheathing of the sword or detract from the sword’s aesthetic appeal. The break is for all intents and purposes invisible. The sword sheathes and draws smoothly and is held firmly within the scabbard.
This is a near mint condition example of a scarce Victorian 1895 pattern sword from a top maker. An increasingly hard to find sword.
